In 2012 the Buffalo Bills and their fan base are expecting big things. The Bills spent big this offseason bringing in star talent like Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. They drafted talent adding CB Stephen Gilmore and OT Cordy Glenn. There are plenty of reasons for the Bills and their fan base to be excited for the coming 2012 season. In the end though there is still one looming factor that nobody can figure out and that’s QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In being an edge-setter, a 3-4 outside linebacker must have the length to leverage defenders and the strength and athleticism to perform from the edge. A player with long arms and functional strength can lock out on a tight end or tackle on the outside of the line to create a boundary for the offense to have to work within.

Defensive tackle Kyle Love surpassed expectations as much as anyone on the defense last season. He was a force alongside Wilfork, and Love’s ability to consistently push through the middle gave the coaches enough comfort to swing Wilfork to the outside in certain situations.

Both sides have been respectful of each other during the process, but if you read between the lines, owner Robert Kraft has stated the club’s position. Kraft said both sides want to complete a deal, but “it requires intelligence” and “what’s going to happen in the next few years with the cap, you have to have a core group of players that you can plan around as the foundation of your team.”